Sounds a little dramatic, right? Well, it’s not. Waking up earlier can actually help save your life. But not because being more productive in the morning can be better for your health. It’s because that extra time in the morning will allow you to get the little things done before you begin your commute to work, school, or any other destination.

When you wake up earlier, you’ll have time to make those calls and send those text messages to family members, friends, and coworkers. The extra time in the morning will allow you to enjoy your breakfast and get completely ready before you start the engine. Those 15 minutes will allow you to check out the news and find out the scores of last night’s game. But without that time, those little tasks tend to happen in the car. And that’s a problem.

Distracted driving is everything from texting to surfing the web, eating a snack to putting on your makeup. It’s anything that can take your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the drive. That is why it is crucial to get to bed a little earlier so you can wake up and get everything you need to be done in the morning prior to even walking out to your vehicle. It can be the difference between life and death, literally.